Noral McCauley, owner, and Janet Johnson of POC Liquor Store

There are two attendants at the POC Liquor Store who each offer a friendly smile constantly and a desire to help as a visitor enters. The first is Janet Johnson, the manager of the store and the second is Noral McCauley, the owner. Before the opening of the POC Liquor Store, Janet had been the manager of Alvin’s since its inception in 2003. And anyone visiting the store at that time, whether to purchase a delightful wine or a certain type of liquor, to ask questions about what’s going on, or just to ask for directions, Janet always greeted everyone with an incredible smile and willingness to be of help.

However, in November of 2011 Speedy Stop decided that the area where Alvin’s was located was needed for an expansion of the store. So Janet soon found herself without a job, but she had received offers from five different individuals to manage another store here in Port O’Connor. And knowing Noral McCauley for a long period of time and being quite impressed with his business acumen, Janet decided to wait for the opening of Noral’s store.

Janet has been a resident of POC since the 50’s; working at the Fishing Center and other businesses for a number of years. Also she helped her husband, Lewis with his fishing guide business and working with his clients. When Lewis suffered a stroke several years ago, Janet became his caregiver. Additionally, she is the parent for her great granddaughter, Hailey and has cared for her since birth. Janet is also the President of the Service Club and is always there working on their projects.

Noral McCauley, the owner of the POC Liquor Store, however, has a very unusual and interesting background. He claims residency in Port O’Connor prior to his birth as his parents settled here in the 70’s from Illinois. Noral’s grandparents were operating the Tarpon Inn for Mr. Mitchell, the owner, and his father then worked in Joe Bright’s lumber yard and his mother also operated a catering business. Noral received his education locally, and following graduation from high school, began working. He has had a varied career working in the oilfields, helping his grandparents in the liquor store at the Tarpon, helping to build the swimming pool at Alligator Head, and then finally working with Shane Bell at Shoalwater Marine in the 80’s and 90’s. Working at Shoalwater he sold boats and also designed them, using the Yamaha boat motors. But Noral wanted to be his own boss and so in 2006 he opened Overboard Marine where he and his helpers do engine work, maintenance and minor repairs. Noral is also a single father and is extraordinarily proud of his daughter, Kaleigh, a talented musician, who is married to a Marine. Unfortunately, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, is quite a distance from Port O’Connor and doesn’t lend itself to daily visits.

Noral’s belief is that if you always do people right, goodness comes back to you. And he maintains how lucky he is as he rejoices daily in his work and the ability to perform the varying tasks required correctly.

POC Liquor Store is located at 8th and Adams Street in a large white building that was formerly known as Squid Row, a drive-through for beer and sodas. As you enter the Liquor Store, you are impressed by the space, the openness with corresponding light and a huge area for stocking all kinds of items. And, if somehow you are unable to find a certain brand, either Janet or Noral will be happy to try and locate a requested item.

I’ve written in the past of various businesses in our area and the owners and operators of each business to try and convey to the reader a little something extra about the person. If an owner would like to be interviewed, please give me a call or contact me at the below address.

kubeckasue@yahoo.com
361 798-0560